4.1. SR 07-25-1994
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ITEM 4.1 & 4.2
MEMORANDUM
TO:
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
PAT KLAERS, CITY ADM~TRAJOR
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JULY 20,1994\7
AGENDA ITEMS 4.1 & 4.2
ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING
DATE:
SUBJECT:
The Arts Council has submitted financial documentation on 1993-94 expenditures and
revenues. In order for the City to release its $5,000 contnlmtion to the Arts Council, it is
a requirement that the Arts Council raise at least an identical amount in local funds to
support its efforts. Fioance Director Lori Johnson has attached a memo which iodicates
that all the financial information is in order and staff recommends the release of $5,000 to
the Arts Council from the 1994 City budget.
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Along with the release of 1994 funds, representatives of the Arts Council will be
requestiog 1995 funding from the City. I understand that the Arts Council may be
requesting an increase in the City's contnlmtion. 1 have indicated to the Arts Council
representatives that similar funding as to what was received io 1994 was likely, under the
same condition of a local match, but that an iocrease was questionable and that no final
decision would be made until either September or maybe even December when final action
on the City budget is taken. The Council certainly can provide the Arts Council with an
iodication of the minimum contnlmtion from the City in 1995 and withhold judgment on
any additional funding until later io the budget process.
artscoun/ cc
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P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
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Elk F}iver
flrea flrts <?;"otIQcil
400 JacksoI/ fIveI/ue
Rlk ~iver, MN 55330
(612) 441-4725
July 19, 1994
Dear City Administrator Klaers, Mayor Duitsman and Council Members,
On Monday, July 25 myself and Arts Council Board members will come before you as you decide
whether to release the $5000 you had budgeted for us in 1994, and decide what ammount to fund
us at in 1995.
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We are going to ask you to increase our funding to $6000 in 1995 in order to help preserve our Arts
in the Park program. Arts in the Park was attended by 1550 people in 1993 - the total is not in yet
for '94, as the season is still in progress. Enclosed is a schedule. Hear the St. Cloud String Quartet
on Sunday the 24th of July, or the Third Annual Elk River Area Opry on the 31 st. Two more concerts,
these with youth in mind, follow. The Arts in the Park season has been shortened by two weeks this
year, and the most expensive single acts eliminated, in order to cut costs. As in '92 and '93, the
program has been partly funded by the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. This year, with the
notice that our grant request was partly funded, the Foundation suggested that we seek another
source of funding in '95. They suggested finding local funding, or charging admission. An admission
cost would eliminate attendance by some people, especially if enough was charged to meet costs. We
are asking you to increase our funding to $6000 to make up the $1000 minimum we have been getting
from the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.
Our Strings for Youth program is in a new growth phase with the hiring of Rhonda K. Johnson as
Strings for Youth Program Director. She will administer and develope the program, teaching the
additional instruments we will add this year, and directing the youth orchestra we will open to
advanced students in '95 - '96. Beside the growth in scope of the program, this phase is expected
to increase the total number of students, and provide an artistic goal for the young strings players as
they move into their teens. Costs will also be increased. We are increasing the fees for students to
the maximum that will keep them affordable to those families that are not affluent, but costs of the
program are still not covered.
You have seen that the Elk River Area Arts Council has matched in funds raised locally the $5000 you
have budgeted for us well before the middle of 1994. We raised $3200 with our variety show which
showcased the talent of people of a wide range of ages. Another variety show will open this year on
September 16. Still, without your continued funding, we cannot be assured of a future. We seek
funds from every possible source; try to devise and produce fund raising events that have artistic merit
and suit our mission. At a certain point, however, more time will be spent scrambling for funds than
producing constructive arts activities. Please consider our request.
Sincerely,
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rL0y-iL~~ -
Jane Thomson
Elk River Area Arts Council Coordinator
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ARTS IN THE PARK, 1994
ALL CONCERTS AT 4 P.M.,
LIONS PARK, SCHOOL STREET BETWEEN
JACKSON & PROCTOR, ELK RIVER
Sponsored by Elk River Area Arts Council, 441-4725
Date Artists
. 6/5, Sunday Elk River Community Band
6/12 . Folk Tales from Around tire World-
Playwright's Center production for children
6/19 . Leroy Larson Scandinavian Ensemble
6/26 . Irish music and dance: Laura MacKenzie, Mag McDermot,
Brenda Buckley
7/3 . Mexican mariachi band from Instituto de Arte y Cultura
7/10 . Capitol City Brass Quintet
7/17 Young Peoples'Dance Day: Miss Stacey's Dance Unlimited students;
plus other local performers
7/24 St. Cloud String Quartet
7/31 " 3rd Annual Elk River Area Opry: The Lund family; Strings for Youth
students; Probable Cause; Cousin Dad;
Dick Gatzke as emcee.
8/7 . Blues Sunday: Law Orsoni and local performers
8/14 . Rock concert - Mihrage
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